'Freedom Highway' from Rhiannon Giddens is one of those amazing rarities, a politically charged and artistically refined album. The music is spectacular, the lyrics are beautiful and inspiring, and the singing is as glorious as you'll hear anywhere.
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Music Review: Mike Zito – ‘Make Blues Not War’
Take up Zito's battle cry, "Make Blues Not War," and enjoy this incredible record, which I believe is his best yet!
Read More »Retro Modern: Omar Lye-Fook – ‘Love in Beats’
'Love in Beats' (2017) is another solid effort from Omar Lye-Fook, affirming his position as one of the U.K.'s finest exports to espouse the sensuality and heart of R&B music.
Read More »Book Review: ‘The Blues: Why It Still Hurts So Good’ by Marie B. Trout, PhD
In 'The Blues: Why It Still Hurts So Good' Marie B. Trout combines her own experience and the words of fans, musicians, and industry professionals to look at the blues in a most professional, unusual and interesting way.
Read More »Charlie Doherty’s Top Tunes of 2016 (Feat. Dinosaur Jr, Bon Iver, Anderson .Paak, Mitski, DJ Snake, Switchtense, Joe Bonamassa, and More)
These are in no particular order, except for this first one, my vote for song of 2016, at least for guitar. After listening to Joe Bonamassa's blistering, searing solo, you will not forget it anytime soon.
Read More »Music Review: Robbie Robertson – ‘Testimony’
Sadly, through the cruelty of time and mortality, The Band itself ceased to be many years ago but Robbie Robertson himself is still telling stories and spinning guitar chords through his music.
Read More »Charlie Doherty’s Top Releases of 2016 (Starring Joe Bonamassa, Metallica, Deftones, Sturgill Simpson, David Bowie, and More)
As for the music of 2016, there was the usual amount of "meh" mixed in with a host of impressive releases. Certainly, there were no game-changers that I heard. (Sorry Kanye and Kendrick.)
Read More »Music Review: Ruby Friedman Orchestra – ‘Gem’
'Gem' by the Ruby Friedman Orchestra is a time portal back to the early days of blues but run through a modern-day filter of Friedman’s own experiences. Trust me, you’ve never heard anything like this. It’ll sneak under your skin, and you’ll want to keep it there.
Read More »Music Review: Jethro Tull – ‘Stand Up: The Elevated Edition’
Much of Jethro Tull's second album still stands up, so to speak. The bright nasality of the hyperactive mandolin on "Fat Man," the blues-rock/progressive fusion of "Nothing is Easy," and the dark psychedelia of "We Used to Know" are all of their time, yet in the new mixes they leap urgently from the speakers. A 1969 Stockholm concert and a booklet packed with reminiscences and commentary help make this new edition something Tull fans will value.
Read More »Music Review: Chris Robinson Brotherhood – ‘If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home by Now’ EP
Over the past five years, these guys – Chris Robinson and Neal Casal – have managed to build a sound and a feeling in their music that I wasn’t even aware I’d been craving...
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